Fear of Kyasanur Forest Disease across Udupi district
Entry into water falls, trekking spots restricted
Udupi, Jan 27: Following the fear of Kyasanur Forest Disease, the Forest Department (Wildlife) has restricted the entry into water falls, trekking places and other tourist spots in the forest area, temporarily.
As per the direction of the Deputy Commissioner, the entry into all water falls and trekking spots in the Western Ghats region in Karkala and Kundapura taluks were restricted. Caution notice and awareness placards were put up in all places restricting the entry. The entry into six tourist spots were restricted in Hebri Wildlife division. The entry of tourists to Kudlu waterfalls in Someshwara wildlife division, Jomlu Thirtha near Hebri Santhekatte, Narasimha hill, Onake Abbi falls near Agumbe, trekking spot near Madamakki, Barkana, Jogigundi falls and other places were restricted temporarily.
Placards restricting the entry into Kudlu waterfalls where butterfly lovers, photographers, were put up in front of the gate in view of the Kyasanur Forest Disease by the Hebri Someshwara wildlife division and Nadpalu Megadde Kodlu development committee.
In the same way, waterfalls in Kollur, Amasebailu and Siddapura wildlife division, Kodachadri hill and other trekking spots were also restricted and tourists were asked not to visit these places. It was mentioned in the placards that the Kyasanur Forest Disease spreading by virus was deadly and it would spread through ticks from monkeys. Since the ticks develop during December to May, people should avoid visiting forest except emergency situation. Since the disease does not have proper vaccination, people should restraint themselves from going to forest areas. The depart also restricted to feed monkeys, stated in a statement.
"The entry of tourists into the tourist spots in the Western Ghats was restricted keeping in view of Kyasanur Forest Disease and forest fire. Warning messages were put up in important trekking spots in Kudremukh national park and Kodachadri hill".
- Rudran, DFO, Kudremukh wildlife division, Karkala
Feeding monkeys restricted
"Not only the entry of tourist spots, but feeding monkeys on the way to trekking spots was also restricted. Agumbe sun-set point entry was not restricted as the place is on the road. But the tourists should keep themselves away from monkeys. The monkeys at the sun set point should not be fed. Placards were also put up on Agumbe ghat section road".
- Vanilla Hegde, Hebri wildlife division officer
Three more caracases of monkeys found
On Saturday, caracases of three more monkeys were found in the district. With them, the number of monkeys died in the district from Jan 8 was increased to 78. The caracases were found in Kokkarne and Mandarthi in Udupi taluk and Hallihole Eleberu in Kundapura taluk. But they were burnt with conducting postmortem, said Kyasanur Forest Disease nodal officer Dr Prashant Bhat.
On Friday, the blood samples of two patients sent to Manipal lab were tested positive. Today, another patient from Belve Albadi admitted to Manipal hospital and his blood sample was also sent to laboratory, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Israel launches first airstrike on Lebanon since ceasefire, accusing Hezbollah of breaching truce
Beirut, Nov 28: The Israeli military on Thursday said its warplanes fired on southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity at a rocket storage facility, the first Israeli airstrike a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold.
There was no immediate word on casualties from Israel's aerial attack, which came hours after the Israeli military said it fired on people trying to return to certain areas in southern Lebanon. Israel said they were violating the ceasefire agreement, without providing details. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said two people were wounded.
The back-to-back incidents stirred unease about the agreement, brokered by the United States and France, which includes an initial two-month ceasefire in which Hezbollah members are to withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border. The buffer zone would be patrolled by Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers.
On Thursday, the second day of a ceasefire after more than a year of bloody conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's state news agency reported that Israeli fire targeted civilians in Markaba, close to the border, without providing further details. Israel said it fired artillery in three other locations near the border. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
An Associated Press reporter in northern Israel near the border heard Israeli drones buzzing overhead and the sound of artillery strikes from the Lebanese side.
The Israeli military said in a statement that “several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire.” It said troops “opened fire toward them” and would “actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli officials have said forces will be withdrawn gradually as it ensures that the agreement is being enforced. Israel has warned people not to return to areas where troops are deployed, and says it reserves the right to strike Hezbollah if it violates the terms of the truce.
A Lebanese military official said Lebanese troops would gradually deploy in the south as Israeli troops withdraw. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.
The ceasefire agreement announced late Tuesday ended 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began a day after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, when the Lebanese Hezbollah group began firing rockets, drones and missiles in solidarity.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes, and the conflict steadily intensified for nearly a year before boiling over into all-out war in mid-September. The war in Gaza is still raging with no end in sight.
More than 3,760 people were killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon during the conflict, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The fighting killed more than 70 people in Israel — over half of them civilians — as well as dozens of Israeli soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon.
Some 1.2 million people were displaced in Lebanon, and thousands began streaming back to their homes on Wednesday despite warnings from the Lebanese military and the Israeli army to stay out of certain areas. Some 50,000 people were displaced on the Israeli side, but few have returned and the communities near the northern border are still largely deserted.
In Menara, an Israeli community on the border with views into Lebanon, around three quarters of homes are damaged, some with collapsed roofs and burnt-out interiors. A few residents could be seen gathering their belongings on Thursday before leaving again.
